University of KwaZulu-Natal students’ experiences of loss, grief and bereavement during Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a great impact in the lives of many people. This is particularly because it has not only resulted in loss of lives, but it has also resulted in non-death losses that left several people bereaved. There are various implemented restrictions that extended to universities and its students to contain the spread of the virus; however, because students come from different backgrounds, their experiences of loss during COVID-19 differ. Despite the existing literature on bereaved university students, there is limited knowledge about the experiences of bereaved university students during COVID-19 pandemic because COVID-19 is a new phenomenon. Furthermore, there is a lack of contextually relevant literature on bereaved students in UKZN PMB campus. It has then become apparent that more research is needed research into the experiences of bereaved students during COVID-19 and for the development of effective bereavement programmes within the UKZN PMB Campus. The principal aim of this current study was therefore, to highlight the experiences of bereaved UKZN students during COVID-19 pandemic and to determine whether there are suggestions from students that will aid in the development of bereavement program(s) within the UKZN campus (es). This current study then used purposive sampling to recruit five bereaved UKZN PMB campus students Qualitative interviews were used to interview these students at the UKZN, Child and Family Centre and reflexive thematic data analysis was used to analyze data. The findings showed that several students experienced sudden loss during COVID-19, and this resulted in their intensified experience of differing emotions. Since various restrictions were placed on social gatherings and universities, learning moved online, and this had negative impacts in some students’ experiences of loss and their academic performance. Lack of support from friends, family and the death of caregivers played a huge role in the intensity of grief and students’ sense of identity within the university. Despite online counselling being helpful, students still preferred contact counselling sessions. They were eager to have someone that they can trust and be able to talk to about their challenges. Suggestions were then made to help improve the experiences of bereaved students on campus.